Karen “Gar” Louise Oesch

December 17, 2013

COLUMBIANA - Karen "Gar" Louise Oesch, 69, of Columbiana, died on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at the Hospice House in Poland.

She was born on July 7, 1944, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Mark Gilbert Myers and the late Ruby Agnes Bishop Myers.

Karen was a graduate of Springfield Local High School and spent most of her life working as a homemaker. She was active within her church having attended both the First Presbyterian Church of Columbiana and more recently, the First Christian Church of Columbiana. She enjoyed singing in the choir, participating in the bell choir and volunteering when she could. It was through her church that she volunteered her time to hold church services for the residents of Parkside Health Care Center. She also enjoyed lifting people's spirits with her own personal card and hospitality ministry, as well as sewing blankets for loved ones. Mostly, Karen enjoyed being a wife, mother and grandmother and loved spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband, Harold L. Oesch, whom she married on Sept. 2, 1982; two daughters, Melanie (Gregory) Sprouse of Columbiana and Jill Ann (Kenneth) Chang of Canton; a son, David (Lynn) Wyant of Austintown, two stepdaughters, Candice (Jim) Downie of Columbiana and Michelle Oesch of North Lima; a stepson, Michael (Shelly) Oesch of Chicago, Ill.; two sisters, Ruth (Tom) Williams of Westerville, Ohio, and Beverly (Gordan) Withers of Petersburg, Ohio; and a sister in-law, Nancy Myers of Columbiana.

Also surviving are 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Karen was preceded in death by her twin brother, Kenneth Myers.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Warrick-Kummer-Rettig Funeral Home in Columbiana.

Services will be held on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, at the First Christian Church of Columbiana at 11a.m. where the family will again receive friends one hour prior to the service. Mr. John Reed, minister, and Mr. Clarence Mansfield, minister, will be officiating. Burial will be in the Columbiana Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Karen's memory to either Lynch Syndrome International, 3650 South Pointe Circle, Suite 245-9, Laughlin, Nev. 89029; or Hospice House of Poland, 9803 Sharrot Road, Poland, Ohio 44514.